Dahlia plant named ‘Sunfire’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Sunfire’ that is distinguishable by its naturally branched plant habit with multiple basal branches and lateral branches, dentate compound leaves, and large informal decorative type flowers which are bicolored yellow with bright red stripes and splashes, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dahlia variabilis.

Variety denomination: ‘Sunfire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of dahlia grown for use in mixed combinations, beds and the landscape. The new variety is known botanically as Dahlia variabilis and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Sunfire’.

The genus Dahlia is in the family Compositae. The flower of ‘Sunfire’ is classified as an Informal Decorative Dahlia, consisting of twisty, curvy or wavy ray florets. The ray florets are arranged in whorls surrounding a central cluster of disc florets.

The inventor's Dahlia breeding program was commenced in 2007 in Commentry in central France. The objective of the breeding program is to combine certain desirable commercial characteristics of plant habit and flowers. The breeding programme is aimed at developing compact, naturally dwarf growth habits which do not require manual pinching or use of plant growth regulators, and large flowers with novel colors or color combinations including stripes and splashes.

The inventor's breeding stock consists of an isolated plot of dahlia varieties which have been selected or raised by the inventor from previous generations. The inventor allows open pollination of the breeding stock. Seed from the open pollinations is harvested and stored in October and November and sown in March of the following year, planted into the open ground in June and evaluated and, if very promising, set aside in August. Those selections which the inventor considers worthy of introduction are multiplied in the fall of the year of selection in the inventor's tissue culture laboratory. ‘Sunfire’ arose from the breeding program described above and was selected by the inventor in August 2009. The inventor selected ‘Sunfire’ for its large informal decorative flowers which are predominantly yellow in color and which exhibit bright orange-red stripes and splashes throughout the inflorescence.

The parents of ‘Sunfire’ are unknown and have not been released.

The first asexual reproduction of ‘Sunfire’ was conducted in fall 2010 using stem cuttings at the inventor's nursery in Commentry, France. Subsequent asexual propagation was carried out by stem cuttings and by in vitro cuttings in the inventor's laboratory. Under careful observation, the distinguishing characteristics have been determined stable, uniform, and to be reproduced true to type in subsequent generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Dahlia cultivar named ‘Sunfire’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Sunfire’ from all other existing varieties of Dahlia known to the inventor. ‘Sunfire’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Sunfire’ exhibits naturally branched plant habit with         multiple basal branches and lateral branches.     -   2. ‘Sunfire’ bears compound trifoliate leaves with prominent         dentate margins.     -   3. ‘Sunfire’ bears large informal decorative-type flowers whose         ray florets twist and gently recurve.     -   4. The flowers of ‘Sunfire’ are bicolored consisting of yellow         ground with bright red stripes and splashes.     -   5. ‘Sunfire’ is grown for use in mixed combinations, beds and         the landscape.     -   6. ‘Sunfire’ blooms from summer until fall.     -   7. ‘Sunfire’ grows to 60 cm in height and width after one         growing season     -   8. ‘Sunfire’ is hardy to USDA Zone 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs labeled FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia cultivar named ‘Sunfire’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describes the actual colors of the new Dahlia variety named ‘Sunfire’. The photographs were made from digital photographs of plants grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif.

FIG. 1 depicts the entire plant in bloom showing the overall appearance of ‘Sunfire’ with typical bloom, foliage and habit.

FIG. 2 depicts a close-up view of a flower of ‘Sunfire’

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new Dahlia cultivar named ‘Sunfire’. Observations, measurements, values and comparisons were collected during August 2017 in Santa Barbara, Calif. from 2-litre container plants. Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007 Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Growing requirements are similar to the species. Growing requirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification:     -   -   Family.—Compositae.         -   Genus and species.—Dahlia variabilis.         -   Denomination.—‘Sunfire’.         -   Common name.—Dahlia. -   Parentage: ‘Sunfire’ is a seedling selection made from plants grown     from seed which resulted from the open-pollination of unknown and     unreleased seedlings previously raised by the inventor. -   Plant:     -   -   Propagation method.—Tissue culture, cuttings, tubers.         -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.         -   Tuber shape.—Fusiform.         -   Tuber size.—10 cm average.         -   Tuber color.—165D.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Habit.—Upright habit.         -   Use.—For use in mixed combinations, beds and the landscape.         -   Type.—Perennial in climate zones 9 and above; annual             elsewhere.         -   Dimensions.—60 cm in height and width.         -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with regular water,             and well-draining potting soil.         -   Pest susceptibility.—Susceptible to aphids.         -   Disease susceptibility.—Susceptible to mildew in highly             humid conditions. -   Stem and basal branches:     -   -   Stem (below basal branches, unexposed).—Length 3 cm,             diameter 1 cm, shape cylindrical, surface coriaceous, color             N199D.         -   Basal branching habit.—Naturally occurring (unpinched) basal             branches with lateral branches.         -   Basal branches.—Number: 5 basal and lower stem branches.             Dimensions: 30 cm in length and 8 mm to 10 mm in diameter at             base. Shape: Cylindrical. Surface: Glabrous. Color: 148B.             Internode length: 2.5 cm to 3.0 cm         -   Lateral branches.—Number: 0 to 5 lateral branches per basal             branch. Dimensions: Up to 18 cm in length and 4 mm in             diameter. Shape: Cylindrical. Surface: Glabrous. Internode             length: 2.5 cm to 4.0 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Compound, trifoliate.         -   Leaflet shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Leaflet dimensions (terminal leaflet).—Up to 10 cm in             length, 8 cm in width.         -   Leaflet dimensions (secondary leaflet pair).—Up to 8.5 cm in             length, 4.5 cm in width.         -   Leaflet base.—Acuminate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute, occasionally acuminate.         -   Margin.—Coarsely and irregularly dentate. Tooth shape acute             or aristate. Tooth dimensions, height 3 mm, and width up to             10 mm. Number, 7 to 9 teeth per margin (14 to 18 teeth per             leaflet).         -   Color (adaxial surface).—137B.         -   Color (abaxial surface).—138C.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—138B.         -   Vein color (abaxial surface).—137C.         -   Leaf surfaces (both surfaces).—Glabrous.         -   Compound leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaflet attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petiole shape.—Sulcate.         -   Petiole dimensions.—Primary petiole (stem to secondary             leaflet pair): 6 cm in length and 6 mm in width at stem.             Petiole of secondary leaflets: 5 cm in length, 3.5 mm to 5.0             mm in width. Petiole of terminal leaflet: 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm             in length, 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm in width.         -   Petiole color.—Adaxial surface: 152A with streaks 175C on             older primary petioles; abaxial surfaces: 138C.         -   Petiole surfaces.—Glabrous. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence type and shape.—Informal decorative type whose             ray flowers (appearing as petals) are twisted along their             length and gently recurved at their apex.         -   Arrangement.—The ray flowers are arranged in whorls             surrounding a central cluster of disc florets.         -   Aspect.—Facing upward and outward.         -   Inflorescence quantity.—35 to 40 buds and flowers per             2-litre container plant.         -   Dimensions of inflorescence.—13 cm to 15 cm in diameter and             5 cm to 6 cm in height.         -   Blooming season.—Summer and fall.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—4 to 5 days.         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance of inflorescence.—None observed.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions (average): up to 8 cm in length and 3             mm to 5 mm in diameter. Shape: Cylindrical. Surface:             Glabrous. Strength: Extremely stiff. Color: 145B below             inflorescence, becoming 175C with age and towards peduncle             base.         -   Bud.—Shape: Oblate. Dimensions (average): 13 mm in in             diameter, 8 mm in height. Surface: Glabrous. Appearance:             Semi-glossy. Color: 143C at base becoming 151A towards and             at apex. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Truncate.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence: Approximately 180.             Arrangement: Whorls (8 to 10 per inflorescence). Form:             Longitudinally twisted up to a quarter turn, apex recurved.             Dimensions (when fully developed): 6 cm in length and 2.2 cm             in width. Shape: Lanceolate. Surface (adaxial and abaxial):             Glabrous. Apex: Acute, with single or double notch. Depth of             notch up to 2 cm. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color             overall: A fully open inflorescence with all ray florets             fully expanded appears bicolored yellow and red. The red             coloration occurs in longitudinal stripes and splashes.             Stripes run from base to apex and are up to 8 mm in width.             Splashes are uniformly distributed and range between 1 mm             and 5 mm in length and 0.25 mm and 0.5 mm in width. Color             (adaxial surface): Bright yellow 9A with stripes and             splashes bright red 42A. Color (abaxial surface):             Cream-yellow 10A and soft red 45D. Corolla tube dimensions:             3 mm in length, 1.5 mm in diameter. Corolla tube color:             157D. Venation: Longitudinal parallel veins, depressed on             adaxial surface, raised as ribs, typically three in number)             on abaxial surface. Vein color (adaxial surface): 9A and 42A             (as adjacent lamina). Vein color (abaxial surface): 10D.         -   Disc florets.—Disc diameter: 8 mm to 10 mm. Quantity of disc             florets: 90 to 100 disc florets per inflorescence. Disc             floret dimensions: 6 cm in length and 1 mm in width. Disc             floret color: Ranges between N25A and N25C. Petals: 8 in             number. Petals fused or unfused: Fused. Petal apex: Acute.             Petal surface (both surfaces): Glabrous. Receptacle:             Dome-shaped, 6 mm in depth and 12 mm in diameter. Receptacle             surface: Glabrous. Receptacle color: 144A.         -   Phyllaries.—Arrangement: Densely packed whorl, consisting of             approximately 20 concentric rings or layers. Number:             Approximately 180 to 200. Shape: Lanceolate. Dimensions             (largest, outermost): 22 mm in length, 9 mm in width, 1 mm             in thickness at middle of phyllary base. Color: (adaxial and             abaxial surfaces): Predominantly 1B except narrow elongated             triangle 143C at base and extending to midpoint of phyllary.             Surface texture: Waxy, glabrous. Appearance: Translucent.             Apex: Rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. -   Reproductive organs (present of disc florets only):     -   -   Stamens.—5 in number, fused into tube around style.         -   Stamen length.—5 mm to 6 mm.         -   Stamen color.—10A.         -   Anthers.—Connate, tiny, less 0.5 mm in length and width.         -   Anther color.—N25C.         -   Pollen.—Sparse, none free.         -   Pollen color.—10B.         -   Pistil.—One in number.         -   Pistil length.—11 mm in length.         -   Stigma form.—Bifid, reflexed.         -   Stigma dimensions.—8 mm in length including 2 mm exserted.         -   Stigma color.—10A.         -   Ovary position.—Inferior.         -   Ovary color.—157D.         -   Ovary shape.—Obconical.         -   Ovary dimensions.—1 mm in width and 1.5 mm in height. -   Seed: No seed observed to date.

COMPARISON TO COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The varieties of Dahlia which are considered by the inventor to most closely resemble ‘Sunfire’ are Dahlia ‘KLEDH17008’ (unpatented) which is in commerce under the name Dalaya Yellow 18, and Dahlia ‘KLEDH13037’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,353) which is in commerce under the name Dalaya Devi. Whereas the flower colors of ‘Sunfire’ are yellow and bright red in color, the flowers of ‘KLEDH17008’ are yellow in color, and the flowers of ‘KLEDH13037’ are dark red in color. The plant height of both ‘KLEDH17008’ and ‘KLEDH13037’ ranges between 41 cm and 46 cm under the inventor's growing conditions, whereas the height of ‘Sunfire’ is 60 cm. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named ‘Sunfire’ as described and illustrated herein. 